Float Switch

You have liquid in containers, and you must keep track of the liquid in those containers. You already know that liquid level measurements come in two types: continuous measurements that give ongoing feedback about the level of the liquid being measured, and discrete measurements that provide, essentially, a Yes or No answer to the question, "Is the liquid at this particular level?" But which technology type is the right one for you? Your liquids don’t require "up-to-the-minute" monitoring, you just need to know when "critical levels" are reached. Congratulations, you need a float switch!

Float switches are used for point-level detection and are commonly used to control other devices such as alarms and pumps when a liquid level rises or falls to a specific point. APG’s Stainless Steel Float Switches are used in a variety of industries and applications including applications in food and beverage, water and wastewater, and chemical industries. APG’s Stainless Steel Float Switches feature NSF 169 approval making them a great selection for food and beverage applications. Below are examples of food and beverage industry applications APG’s Float Switches are used in.

A float switch is a type of contact liquid level sensor that uses a float to operate a switch. Float switches are commonly used to control other devices such as alarms and pumps when a liquid level rises or falls to a specific point. While there are some mechanical float switches (similar to the float in a toilet tank that turns off the incoming water when the tank is “full”), this article will focus on electrical float switches, floats that are used to open and close (i.e., turn off and on) electrical circuits.

Deciding whether your float switch needs to be normally open or normally closed for pump control can be a little confusing. So we would like to clear things up.

When we say normally open or normally closed, we are referring to an electrical circuit. An open circuit is incomplete, meaning that the electric current is unable to complete the loop due to a gap. A closed circuit is complete with no gaps, enabling the current to travel through the whole loop. 

Everybody is looking for an advantage. Business are constantly trying to get a leg up on their competitors on performance, quality, or reliability (or all three!). And it is often in the small things, the details, where these advantages can be won and lost. Float switches are, by nature, small things, but the right float switch can give you tremendous advantages. Take the FS-400 Stainless Steel Vertical Float Switch, for instance. Compared to other float switches, the FS-400 has several advantages. Let’s take a look at three.

Many things in life come with trade-offs, often on a size-versus-functionality continuum. At one end, extreme size dictates reduced functionality; similarly, optimum functionality necessitates specific sizes. This works for vehicles—maximizing for speed or cargo requires size constraints—and it is often the case in level monitoring. However, level monitoring in tight spaces doesn’t have to mean sacrificing quality. The new Series FS-410 Miniature Stainless Steel Vertical Float Switch is made to provide big performance in small spaces.